Theft spree lands man with fine

A 42-year-old man who stole $136 in bath products was given a fine in Magistrates’ Court this morning.

Johnny Burgess, of Warwick, walked into Hasco Wholesale on April 23 at 4pm and began to browse the aisles of the store.

He then tried to walk out of the store with goods in a brown paper bag.

The complainant, Michele Hassell, struggled with the defendant to get the items back from him and he ran away.

Police were called and the defendant was seen in the area of Rockaway but he wasn’t arrested.

Burgess was arrested on June 23 for the offences.

The items he tried to take included soap, toothpaste and shower wash.

Addressing the court, Burgess said: “This day was bad and good in a sense for me.

“It was bad because obviously the position that I’m in now but it was good because I learned a valuable lesson.

“I would like to go home, hug my family and put this incident behind me.”

Burgess was given a $200 fine and ordered to pay restitution to Hasco Wholesale.